Folding chair with spring means



n- 8, 1955 R. o. VANDERMINDEN 2,699,815

FOLDING CHAIR WITH SPRING MEANS Filed March 19, 1952 INVENTOR.

3050! BY 34 W 2,699,815 FOLDING CHAIR WITH SPRING MEANS Robert D. VandermindemGranville, N. Y., assignor to The Telescope Folding Furniture Co. Inc., Granville,

. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,425 Claims. (Cl. 155-139) This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs, particularly folding frame-type chairs.

Principal objects and features of the invention are the provision of simple means for use with chairs of this character which will perform the double functions of eliminating accidental collapse of the folding chair when it is in open condition, for example, when the chair is pushed or pulled while on grass or on a heavy rug, and of eliminating accidental opening of the chair when it is in the collapsed or closed condition.

Further objects and features of the invention are the provision of simple, inexpensive structure readily attach-- able to known folding chairs of this type for effecting the desired results.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a folding chair in unfolded or open condition for use, and including the means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the chair of Fig. l with its parts being moved into collapsed, folded or closed condition;-

Fig. 3 is a plan view partially in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 4 of one form of means for effecting the desired objects and features of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the means of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a folding chair embodying a modified form of means for effecting the desired objects and features of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view partially in section along line 6-6 of Fig. 7 of the means of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the means of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, 10 denotes generally a folding chair to which this invention relates. ThlS Cl:la1I comprises a pair of front legs 11 which are oined rigidly near their bottom ends by a transverse member or rung 12. Obliquely arranged rear legs 13 are pivoted at 14 to the respective front legs 11. These rear legs 13 are joined rigidly by a transverse member or rung 15. Arms 6 are pivotally secured at 16a to upper end portions of the front legs 11 and extend rearwardly in substantially horizontal condition. The rear ends of the arms 16 are secured pivotally at 17 to the back members 18. These back members are joined rigidly by several back cross pieces 19 and by a cross rung 20, the latter being located near the lower ends 21 of back members 18. These lower ends 21, when the chair is open, abut upon or rest on the upper surfaces of the rear legs 13 as seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Straps 22 are joined pivotally at 23 and 24 respectively to the respective back members 18 and rear le s 13.

A seat frame 25 is secured pivotally at 14 to the front legs 11 and at 26 to the back members 18. Seating material 27 such as canvas, duck or other desirable material is mounted on the seat frame 25.

The pivotally joined legs 11, 13, arms 16, back members 18 and frame 25 as described constitute a so-called folding frame-type chair whose open position is shown in Fig. 1 at which time the lower ends 21 of the back members 18 abut upon or rest on the upper surfaces of the rear legs 13. In collapsed condition the legs 11, 13, arms 16, back members 18 and seat frame 25 in the directions indicated in Fig. 2 are moved relative to the pivots 14, 16a, 17 and 26 to a position of substantial juxtaposition at which time legs 11, 13, arms 16 and back members 18 member 18 into abutment .legs together, a pair of are in near parallelism. A coiled wire tensioning spring 28 is provided to serve the double function of retaining the chair in its unfolded or open condition shown in Fig. 1

spring 28 being alined with outer surface of said spring Hooks 31 and 32 are formed 31 is engaged or looped around the pin 33 whose head 33a prevents the hook 31 from becoming disengaged. The spring 28 is stretched and its other hook 32 is engaged around or coupled with the rear cross rung 20 ad acent the region of abutment of said lower end 21 of said one back member 18 with said one rear leg 13.

In consequence, the spring 28 is always under tension. This spring tension acts to bias the lower end 21 of back with the upper face of rear t hold the chair in collapsed condition so that it will not accidently unfold while being unfolding of the chair which is important.

To reduce wear on the cross rung 20 and also to fa cilitate assembly of the spring means with the chair a slightly modified form of spring 28a is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In this modification hooks 31a and 32a are holes 36 of band 35. The spring 28a is thus maintained under tension. Action of spring 28a is identical with that of spring 28, the band 35 being wider than hook 32, however, reduces abrasive wear on cross rung 28 during use of the chair so equipped. It can be seen that cross rung 20 is in fact a part rigidly secured to the back members 18 so that the springs 28 or 28a are coupled to a back member 18 and to a rear leg member 13 to provide the described biasing tension for the purposes described.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, variations in detail within the scope of the claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the exact embodiments shown and described herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding chair comprising a pair of parallelly disposed front legs, a transverse member rigidly joining said parallelly disposed rear legs secured pivotally to said front legs, a transverse member rigidly joining said rear legs together, a pair of parallelly disposed back members, transverse rigid members joining said back members together, a cross rung rigidly secured to both of said back members adjacent their lower ends, said lower ends being adapted to abut respective of said rear legs in the open condition of said chair, arms for said chair secured pivotally both to the front legs and the back members, a seat including a seat frame for said chair, the frame being pivotally secured to the front legs, the rear legs and to the back members, and spring means maintained under tension and coupled to one of said rear legs and to said cross rung, said spring means acting to maintain the chair in its open condition and also to maintain it in a closed condition when it is folded into said closed condition.

2. The chair of claim 1 in which said spring means includes'a coiled spring having a'hook at each end, one of said hooks being eoupledito one of said rear legs and the other of said hooks being coupled to said cross rung,

said hooks being coplanar substantially with one side of said spring.

3. The .chair mounted on said cross rung, hooked to said bandmember.

'4. .A folding chair comprising front legs, rear legs and back members pivotally secured together and movable from a closed folded condition to an open unfolded condition at which time said back members abut the rear pivotally connecting at least one of saidback members and the rear leg member which it abuts, a cross rung joining said back members, spring means having hooks at opposite ends, one of said hooks being coupled to said one of said rear leg members, and the other of said hooks being coupled to said cross rung, said'spring always being under tension when its hooks are so coupled and thereby acting to bias the chair into open unfolded condition by then drawing the back members into abutting relationship with the rear leg members, and also acting to bias the chair into a closed folded condition by then drawing the back members into near parallelism Withxthe legs.

5. A folding chair comprising front legs, rear legs and back members pivotally secured together so as to be movable from a closed folded condition in which the legs and back members are in substantial parallelism to an open unfolded condition at which time said back members abut the rear leg members, strap means pivotally of claim 2 including a band member one of said hooks being said chair acting connecting at least one back member to the rear leg member Lwhichit abuts in the open unfolded'condition of said chair, a cross rung joining said back members, a coiled spring having hooks at opposite ends, said hooks extending in the axial direction of said spring from its opposite ends and being substantially coplanar with the outer surface at one side of said spring, one of said hooks being coupled to one of said rear leg members and the other o'fs'aid hooks being coupled'to said cross rung, said spring always being under tension when its hooks are so coupled and thereby in the open unfolded condition of to maintain said open unfolded condiback members into abutting rear legs and said spring also by reason of said tension acting in the closed folded condition of said chair to bias the chair into the latter condition by then drawing the back members into substantial parallelism with the legs.

tion by then drawing said relationship with respective References Cited, in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,273 Collignon July 31, 1883 2,072,075 Travers et a1. Feb. 23, 1937 2,192,672 Connor Mar. 5 1940 2,284,498 Tucker May 26, 1942 2,361,853 Lundquist Oct. 31, 1944 2,452,405 Vincent Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 403,933 France v Nov. 18, 1,909 

